Wednesday, November 22, 2006
EU Request WTO On India’s Spirits And Wines Import Regime
Brussels (Belgium), 21 November: European Commission will today request formal consultations with India in WTO regarding India’s import regime for spirits and wines. This decision follows an investigation carried out in the framework of the European Union’s Trade Barriers Regulation (TBR) at the request of European Spirits Organization.
An European Union Trade Barriers Regulation Investigation concluded that access to the potentially large Indian market for spirits and wines is severely restricted due to a high duty burden and restrictions on retail distribution in certain Indian States. European Union considers that these trade barriers are in clear breach of international trade rules. After having allowed India a considerable period of time to address the problem, EU now hopes to use WTO consultation process to arrive at a mutually satisfactory solution with India.
European Commission spokesman for Trade Peter Power said: "We will always respect genuine sensitivities in India's development but this is out and out protectionism which even the Indian Government has not been able to justify in the past. That is why there must be change and why we have no alternative but to pursue the matter in this way."
EU spirits and wine producers have for a number of years raised concerns about the excessive duty burden on imports of spirits and wines into India. Despite various efforts by industry representatives, EU Member States Governments and European Commission, progress on this issue has so far been limited.
(Www.mediabharti.com)
An European Union Trade Barriers Regulation Investigation concluded that access to the potentially large Indian market for spirits and wines is severely restricted due to a high duty burden and restrictions on retail distribution in certain Indian States. European Union considers that these trade barriers are in clear breach of international trade rules. After having allowed India a considerable period of time to address the problem, EU now hopes to use WTO consultation process to arrive at a mutually satisfactory solution with India.
European Commission spokesman for Trade Peter Power said: "We will always respect genuine sensitivities in India's development but this is out and out protectionism which even the Indian Government has not been able to justify in the past. That is why there must be change and why we have no alternative but to pursue the matter in this way."
EU spirits and wine producers have for a number of years raised concerns about the excessive duty burden on imports of spirits and wines into India. Despite various efforts by industry representatives, EU Member States Governments and European Commission, progress on this issue has so far been limited.
(Www.mediabharti.com)
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